Operatives - Ritual II

Worshipful Society of Freemasons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers
Ritual II° Fellow of the Craft

1980s

A period of seven weeks (symbolic of the seven years’ apprenticeship) having elapsed since the Can. was bound as an Apprentice, the Clerk, on instructions from the D.M.M., prints on the Agenda for the next Meeting: “To be made free of his Bond and passed to the second degree, Bro. (name) indentured as an Apprentice on (date).”
The Assemblage of Lodges IV°to I° being open and ordinary business having been transacted: The Can. (having previously completed the Application Form V) is conducted by J.W.’s Deacon to the N.E. Corner, clothed in an Apprentice’s Apron, and facing the D.M.M.
D.M.M. to Candidate: Bro. … name, I understand you have served your seven years’ apprenticeship and having received a certificate of good character from the S.I.W., have made application for advancement. You will read your application aloud to the Fellows assembled. Candidate does so.
D.M.M.: Your application will receive attention.
J.W.’s D. takes Can. to seat, collects form V and takes it to Clerk.
D.M.M.: I must now request all Brethren below the II° to retire, with the exception of the Candidate.
J.W.’s D. places rough Ashlar stone to the North of the Altar and kneeling stool to the East of it.
D.M.M.’s D. conducts Can. to kneeling stool.
D.M.M. to Can.: You will kneel on both knees, symbolically on the rough ashlar stone.
D.M.M. approaches altar, removes blue cord from Can.’s neck and then takes Can. by the right hand. This must be done for each Candidate when there is more than one.
D.M.M.: Rise, Free Brother. You are now superior to an Apprentice but inferior to a Fellow of the Craft of Free Masons, and the Clerk will now cancel your bond of indenture. D.M.M. returns to seat. D.M.M.’s Deacon leads Can. to D.M.M.
D.M.M.: Do you now pledge your honour as a Man and a Mason that you will steadily persevere through the ceremony of being passed as a Fellow of the Craft?
Can., prompted by D.M.M.’s D.: I do.
D.M.M.: Do you likewise pledge yourself that you will conceal what I am now about to impart to you with the same strict caution as your other secrets as a Mason?
Can., prompted by D.M.M.’s D.: I do.
D.M.M.: Then I will entrust you with the Passing G. and Passing W. by which you may gain admittance to the II° Lodge. The G. is given by … and the word is ...
The Candidate retires with D.M.M.’s D.
D.M.M. opens Lodge by power.
D.M.M., D.J., D.B., and S.I.W. proceed to altar where D.J. opens H.B. at Ruth IV; v. 7 and all return to their places, after adjusting emblem. S.W.’s Deacon removes rough ashlar stone from North of altar.
Meantime outside the Can. is prepared by being dressed in a white gown with an Apprentice’s apron bound over it. He is also given a rough-dressed ashlar stone— i.e., a stone squared to ⅛-inch to ¹/₁₆-inch oversize — which he carries. The Can., instructed by D.M.M.’s Deacon, who has remained outside with the Can., knocks (r) at the outer door of the porch/preparation room leading to the II° Lodge.
O.G., opening outer door: Who comes?
D.M.M.’s D.: Bro. … (name) who has been freed of his Bond and humbly craves this W. Lodge that he may be passed to the honourable rank of a Fellow of the Craft.
O.G.: Give me the passing G. and W.
Can. gives grip and word.
O.G.: Enter. Can. enters with D.M.M.’s D.
O.G. knocks * * * on inner door.
I.G., opens door: Who comes?
D.M.M.’s D.: Bro. … (name) who has been freed of his Bond and humbly craves this W. Lodge that he may be passed to the honourable rank of a Fellow of the Craft.
I.G.: How does he hope to obtain that privilege?
D.M.M.’s D.: By the aid of a passing G. and W. and a specimen of his work.
I.G. to Can.: Give me the passing G. and W.
Can. gives grip and word.
I.G.: Do you swear that this specimen is all your own work and that no other man has used a tool on it?
Can., prompted by D.M.M.’s Deacon: I do.
I.G.: Wait while I report to the W.D.M.M. in the West. Closes door.
I.G.: W.D.M.M., Bro. … (name), who has been freed of his Bond and humbly craves this W. Lodge that he may be passed to the honourable degree of a Fellow of the Craft. He has given me the passing G. and W. and carries a specimen of his work as a test of merit which he swears is all his own work and that no other man has used a tool on it.
D.M.M.: Let him be admitted in due form.
I.G. applies □ to Can.’s chest — the “pectoral part of the body”.) D.M.M.’s Deacon enters with Can.
I.G.: Bro. … (name), in the name of El Shaddai enter this Lodge of Fellows of the Craft of Free Masons, on the square.
Can. enters with D.M.M.’s Deacon and stands in N.E. Corner facing West. Right foot pointing W., left foot pointing S., heels together.
D.M.M.: W.S.I.W. pray inspect this specimen of work.
S.I.W. examines the ashlar carried by the Can.
S.I.W.: It is excellent work, W.D.M.M. I have approved and passed it accordingly.
S.I.W. places Rough-dressed Ashlar Stone at South Side of Altar. Kneeling stool put in position in N.E. by LW.’s Deacon.
D.M.M.: Let the Candidate kneel.
All stand.
J.: Most Holy and Glorious El Shassai, Thou Grand Geometrician of Heaven and Earth, we humbly beseech Thee to bless this Apprentice who is about to be admitted a Fellow of the Craft, so that he may serve Thee aright, and be found worthy to receive the wages promised to those that work diligently in Thy Holy Temple. This we beg in Thy Name Oh El Shaddai.
All: So mote it be.
All sit.
D.M.M.: Let the Can. rise. J.W.’s Deacon removes kneeling stool.
D.M.M.: Fellows in the E., S., W. and N. take notice that Bro. … (name) is about to pass in view before you to show that he is a Candidate properly prepared to be made a Fellow of the Craft.
D.M.M.’s Deacon instructs Can. how to proceed using “header and stretcher or one and one work”. It is sufficient to take three or four steps in this manner after each corner.
D.M.M.’s Deacon, after explaining steps: You must be careful not to fall over at the corners otherwise you must go over it again. D.M.M.’s Deacon conducts Can. round the “Candidate’s track”, finishing in front of the S.W.’s Ped. and facing W. In olden times the Candidate in this degree would have perambulated twice round the Candidates’ track.
D.M.M. to Can.: Before you can be accepted as a member of this Lodge of Fellows another Oath will be required of you. Are you willing to take it?
Can., prompted by D.M.M.’s Deacon: I am.
S.I.W. places large □ E. of Altar with kneeling stool within it. D.M.M.’s Deacon conducts Can. to Altar.
D.M.M.: Then you will kneel, symbolically on the Rough-dressed Ashlar stone, with both knees bare.
S.I.W. provides suitable Bible open at Ruth IV; v. 7.
D.M.M. continues: Hold out your left hand with your forearm square with your body. It will support the H.B. while your right hand will rest thereon, so as to square the forearm. I apply this square to your breast S.I.W. provides small □. Repeat your names at length and mentally assent to the obligation I shall now read to you.
All rise.
I, … name, in the presence of El Shaddai, and this worshipful Lodge of Fellows of the Craft of Free Masons, do most solemnly swear that I will always conceal the secrets of a Fellow of the Craft from an Apprentice Mason, and those of an Apprentice or a Fellow of the Craft, or either of them,. from anyone in the world, unless it be to a true and lawful Brother or Fellow to whom they justly belong, or in the body of a Lodge which is just, perfect and regular, legally met and assembled for that purpose. I do furthermore swear that I will be a true and faithful Fellow of the Craft and that I will answer all Signs and Summonses made to me by a Fellow or sent to me by a lawful Lodge if within the length of my cable-tow (or a distance of two miles) the same not being detrimental to myself or family. That I will conform to the ancient charges and usages and established customs of the fraternity as Free Masons have done in all ages. That I will aid and assist all Brothers and Fellows as far as my circumstances will allow. That I will not wrong a Brother or Fellow nor cause him to be wronged by others, but will give him timely notice of all apparent dangers that may come to my knowledge. That in all times and in all places I will defend and maintain his honour and will strictly respect the chastity of his wife, sister and child. That if a Brother or Fellow is in danger and gives the sign of distress and requires help, I will fly at once to his assistance.
If you accept this obligation you will now repeat after me. All this I swear most scrupulously and religiously to perform to the full extent and meaning of every word and sentence, if within the sphere of prudence and justice, without the least evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation in me whatsoever under no less a penalty than the loss of life by having …
So help me El Shaddai and keep me steadfast in this my great and solemn Obligation being that of a Fellow of the Craft of Free Mason.
D.M.M.: You will kiss the H.B. once with your lips. Can. does so. Take good heed to keep it right well for it is perilous and a great danger for a man to fore-swear himself upon the Holy Book.
S.I.W. takes Bible from Can.
Rise, accepted Fellow of the Craft of Free Mason.
D.M.M. returns to his seat. D.M.M.’s Deacon conducts Can. to D.M.M. Remaining Fellows sit.
D.M.M.: In all the rites of this Society the Candidate represents a “living stone” which is being wrought from the rough, in which it is received from the Quarry, to a state of perfection. As an Apprentice you were taught how to rough hew the stone ⅛ inch to ¹/₁₆inch over measure. Now, as a Fellow of the Craft of Masonry, you have to dress the ashlar to a perfect finish both operatively and symbolically. You will therefore study all the liberal arts and sciences and especially Geometry. You will thus gradually become a “living stone” which can be erected in the most glorious of Temples.
I will now instruct you in the necessary G.W. and S. of a Fellow. The Grip is ... The Grip must always be covered by the Fellow who is challenged. It is never complete without the Word. Nor can the Word be given without the Grip. The word is … which is Hebrew for ... The D.G. or H.S. which must be given when entering or leaving a II° Lodge or when addressing the D.M.M. thereof, is … and must be maintained until it is answered by the P.S. which is ... The Emblematical Sign is ... The signs of Secrecy and of Distress are the same as for Apprentices and throughout the Society. You may now take your seat while the Clerk/Asst. S.I.W. reads the Traditional History, the Charges of Nimrod and the Ancient Charge. The possession of an authentic copy of these in olden times being the authority under which a Lodge worked.
D.M.M.’s Deacon conducts Can. to his seat and returns to his own. Clerk reads History and Charges.
D.M.M., not Clerk: The Traditional History and Charges which have just been read to you are the foundation stone and the commencement of the Worshipful Society of Free Masons in all parts of the world and in all ages.
D.M.M.’s D. conducts Can. to D.M.M. in West.
D.M.M. to Can.: You must now pass the test of the Ashlar square as a living stone.
S.I.W. places square frame on the ground behind candidate. S.W. and J.W. take position each side of frame, S.I.W. instructs Can, to step backwards into frame, S.I.W. holds straight edge vertically to Candidate’s back whilst S.W. and J.W. raise square over Candidate’s head.
S.I.W. reports: The Candidate passes the test.
S.I.W. and Wardens resume seats.
D.M.M.: Let this remind you to square yourself for use. A stone that is fit for the Temple is not left long in the way.
I invest you with the Apron of a Squareman or Fellow of the Craft; it is decorated with a representation of the gauge and the Working Tools of the Degree. I also invest you with the jewel of a Fellow, the square gauge.
You are now a square Mason and I present to you the three working tools of a Fellow — the square, the level and the plumb-rule.
D.M.M. receives tools from S.I.W., shows them to Can. and returns them to S.I.W.
In this degree we represent the perfect ashlar in this form.
D.M.M. shows first development of the cube.
The rule is 12 units long with a hinge dividing it into lengths of 3 units and 9 units. The knocks are ...
The H.B. is open at Ruth IV; v. 7.
You will now sign the roll of Fellows at the Clerk’s table.
D.M.M.’s Deacon conducts Can. to Clerks’ table where roll is signed.
Clerk: Your Bond of Indenture as an Apprentice, now duly cancelled, is returned to you. Hands to Can. It now becomes your first degree Certificate and has recorded on it the details of your registration. It should be carefully preserved as it is proof of your admittance into our Worshipful Society.
D.M.M.’s Deacon then conducts Can. to the S.E. Corner.
D.M.M.: You are now no longer known as “Brother” but as “Fellow” and are at liberty to work in the second stone yard.
We wish you well.

IIº Charge and History

Charge to a Fellow of the Craft
1. I am to admonish you to honour El Shaddai in His Holy Church, that you use no heresay, schism or error in your undertakings, or discredit men’s teaching.
2. To be true to our Sovereign Lord the King, his heirs and lawful successors, committing no treason, misprision of treason, or felony; and if any man shall commit treason that you know of, you shalt forthwith give notice thereof to His Majesty, his Privy Councillors, or some other person that hath commission to enquire thereof.
3. You shall be true to your Brethren and Fellows of the science of Masonry, and do unto them as you would be done unto.
4. You shall keep secret the obscure and intricate parts of the science, not disclosing them to any but such as study and use the same.
5. You shall do your work truly and faithfully, endeavouring the profit and advantage of him that is Owner of the said work.
6. You shall call Masons your Brethren without addition of knaves or other bad language.
7. You shall not take your neighbour’s wife villainously, nor his daughter, nor his maid or his servant, to use ungodly.
8. You shall not carnally lie with any woman that is belonging to the house where you are at table.
9. You shall truly pay for your meat and drink where you are at table.
10. You shall not undertake any man’s work knowing yourself unable or inexpert to perform and effect the same, that no discredit or aspersion may be imputed to the science; or the Lard or Owner of the said work be in any way prejudiced.
11. You shall not take any work that thereby you may live honestly, and pay your Fellow the wages as the science doth require.
12. You shall not take any work to do at excessive rates to deceive the Owner thereof, but so as he may be truly and faithfully served with his own goods.
13. You shall not supplant any of tour Fellows of their work (that is to say) if he or any of them, or he, or they, stand Master or Masters of any Lord or Owners work, that you shall not put him or them out from the said work although you perceive him or them unable to finish the same.
14. You shall not take any apprentice to serve you in the said Science of Masonry under the term of seven years; nor any but such as are descended of good and honest parentage that no scandal be imputed to the Science of Masonry.
15. You shall not take it upon yon to make any one a Mason without the privity or consent of six at least of your Fellows and not but such as is freeborn, and whose parents live in good fame and name, and that hath his right and perfect limos, and able body to attend the said science.
16. You shall not pay any of your Fellows more money than he or they have deserved that you be not deceived by slight or false working and the Owner thereof much wronged.
17. You shall not slander any one of your fellows behind their backs, to impair their temporal estate or good name.
18. You shall not without any urgent cause, answer your Fellows doggedly or ungodly, but as becomes a loving Brother in the science,
19. You shall duly reverence your Fellows that the Bond of Charity and Mutual Love may continue steadfast and stable among you.
20. You shall not, except in Christmas Time use any lawless games, as dice, cards or such like.
21. You shall not frequent any house of bawdery or be a pander to any of your Fellows or others, which will be a great scandal to the science.
22. You shall not go out to drink by night of if the occasion happen that you must go, you shall not stay past eight of the clock having some of your Fellows or one at the least, to bear witness of the honest place you were in and your good behaviour to avoid scandal.
23. You come to the Yearly Assembly if you know where it is kept, being witbin ten miles of the place of your abode, submitting yourself to the censure of your Fellows wherein you have failed to make satisfaction or else to defend by order of the King’s laws.
24. You shall not make any Mould, Square or Rule to Mould atones, but such as are allowed by the Fraternity.
25. You shall not set strangers at work, having employment for them, at least a fortnight, and pay them their wages truly, and if you want work for them, then you shall relieve them with money to defray their reasonable charges to the next Lodge.
26. You shall truly attend your work, and truly end the same, whether it be task or journey work, if you have the payment and wages according to your agreement made with the Master or Owner thereof.

The Traditional History - Second Degree

Good Fellow of the Craft of Free Mason, you having passed as a Fellow of this Ancient and Worshipful Fraternity, it is our purpose to tell you how in what manner this worthy Craft of Masonry was begun, and by many other Worshipful Men.
Before Noah’s Flood there was a man that was called Lamech (Larmek) and this Lamech had two wives, the one called ADAH (Adow), and the other ZILLAH (Zillow). By his first wife ADAH he gat two sons, the one called JABAL, and the other JUBAL. And by the other wife ZILLAH, he gat a son TUBAL-CAIN and a daughter NAAMAH. And these four children founded the beginning of all the crafts in the world. The eldest son JABAL founded the craft of Geometry, He had sheep and lambs in the fields and was the first Liason who wrought Houses and walls of stone.
And his brother Jubal founded the Craft of Music, Song of Mouth, Harp, Organ and Trumpet. And the third son TUBAL-CAIN found out the Smith’s craft of working in Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Steel and all manner of Forging.
And the daughter NAAMAH founded the craft of Weaving.
These four children knew well that God would do vengeance for sin, either by fire or water, wherefore they wrote the sciences that they had founded on two pillars of stone, that they might be found after either fire or flood. The one pillar was made of marble for that it cannot burn with fire, and the other pillar was made of stone called LATERNES for that it cannot drown any water.
Our intent is to tell you truly in what manner these stones were found, on which were written these Sciences.
After the destruction of the world by Noah’s Flood, the great HEMAWIVES, that was CUBIES son, afterwards called HERMES the father of wisdom, found one of the seven sciences written thereon, and he taught them to other men.
The first of the seven sciences is GRAMMAR, and that teacheth a man to spell truly, and write truly. The second is RHETORIC, and that teacheth a man to speak fair and in subtle terms.
The third is LOGICK, and teacheth a man to discern or know truth from falsehood.
The fourth is ARITHMATIC, which teacheth a man to reckon and to count all manner of numbers. The fifth is GEOMETRY, and that teacheth a man to mete and measure the earth and all other things, on which science is founded Masonry and Architecture.
The sixth is MUSIC, and that teacheth a man the craft of song and voice of tongue, organ, harp, and Trumpet.
And the seventh science is called ASTRONOMY, and that teacheth a man to know the course of the sun of the moon and of the stars of Heaven.
These be the seven liberal sciences of which all be founded by one, that is Geometry, for Geometry teacheth a man measure, ponderation and weight of all things on earth; for there is no man that worketh in any craft, but that he worketh by some measure; and every sian that buyeth or selleth, buy or sell by some measure or weight and all this is Geometry.
And the merchants, craftsmen, and all other sciences, and especially the Plowman and the Tillers of all manner of grain and seeds, vines and plants and the setters of all manner of fruit, cannot find mote or measure without Geometry, wherefore the said science of Geometry is the most worthy, as all the others are founded upon it.
At the making of the Tower of Babylon were Masons first made much of, and the Great King of Babylon call NIMROD was himself a Master Mason. He loved well the craft and made the Masons Free Men and Free Masons in his Kingdom. And when the City of NINEVEH and other cities of the east were to be built, Nimrod the King of Babylon, sent thither sixty Lodges of his Free Masons to ASHUR and King of Nineveh, his cousin and when he had sent them forth he gave then a Charter and a Charge after this manner.

Charges of Nimrod

That the FREE MASONS shall be true to their God, their King, their Lord and their Masters.
That they shall truly serve their Masters for their pay, so that their Masters have worship, and all that belongs to them.
That they shall ordain the most wise and cunning men to he masters of the work, and neither for love, riches or favour set another that hath little cunning to be master of any work, whereby the Lords should be ill served, and the science dishamed.
That they shall be true one to another, and that they shall live truly together.
That they shall assemble together once every year, to see how they might best serve the King, and the Masters for their profit and their own worship.
That they shall correct within themselves those that had trespassed against the Graft, so that the worthy science be not dishonoured.
To all these charges be made them swear a great oath that men used at that time, and he ordained for them a reasonable pay whereby they might live honestly.
And this was the first time that ever any Mason had any Charges of his Craft.
Long after, when the Children of Israel were come into the Land of Behest, that is now called among us the country of Jerusalem, King David began to prepare the ground and stone for the Temple that is called "Templum Domini" and is named with us the Temple of Jerusalem, and the same King David loved well the Free Masons and cherished them much, and gave good pay, and the charges right an they be now.
And after the decease of Kind David, Solomon, that was King David’s son, performed out the Temple that his father had begun, and he sent for Free Masons into divers countries and lands, and gathered them together so that he had foursoore thousand workoer’ that were workers of stone, and wece all Free Masons, and he chose of them three thousand three hundred that were ordained to be Masters and Governors of his works.
And this same Solomon confirmed both the charges and manners that his father had given to the Masons and thus was that worthy craft confirmed in the country of Jerusalem and in many other kingdoms.

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